welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines — fighting intensifies in the country's second—largest city of kharkiv as ukraine accuses russia of bombarding residential districts. half a million people have left ukraine since the invasion began, with some cities witnessing a frantic scramble to escape. the police again are outnumbered, but they're doing their best. i've seen them go down there into the crowds and try and calm people, but it's very, very difficult given the volatility of the situation.

so, what are the chances of peace? ukrainian and russian officials hold talks on a ceasefire, but with no success as president putin rails against the west. translation: the so-called western community, as i reported _ in my speech, the empire of liars, is now trying to implement against our country. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. it's 7am in the morning in singapore and 1am in kharkiv, where president putin is intensifying his war against ukraine. the second city was reeling from russian rocket fire and dozens of civilians were killed as the two countries held their first talks since the russian invasion began. ukraine's president said he feared those talks would not lead to peace. and now, satellite images show

a russian troop convoy heading towards ukraine's capital. we begin with this report from our international correspondent orla guerin in kyiv. gunfire. by night, they defend the capital. skies full of fire. these ukrainian troops are still holding off russian forces. their president calling on the invaders to lay down their arms. translation: drop your weapons and get out of here. _ do not believe your commanders, do not believe your propagandists, just save your lives and go. and in a kyiv children's hospital, a young victim of europe's newest war lies between life and death. he'sjust 13, and doctors tell

us his family as his family tried to flee, they came under fire. it's unclear from which side. the smallest brother was killed, unfortunately. this boy has injuries of face and also injuries of spine. it's very difficult to say at this moment what is the prognosis, but we will try to do everything to save this child. here at okmadet hospital, the largest paediatric centre in ukraine, staff are used to battling disease. now they have to adjust to war on their doorstep. most of the patients have been moved to the basement for safety reasons. there was another air raid siren just as we arrived. now, doctors here say they have enough supplies for the moment, but the world health organization is warning that if the situation in kyiv gets worse, oxygen supplies

could start to run out. and just outside, desperately ill children wait with their worried mothers to be transferred to poland for cancer treatment no longer available here. he is six years old. this boy must endure a riskyjourney with his mother marina. i'll be frank, i am scared. but i can't see another way to - escape, so we will have to do this. but no escape today in kharkiv, ukraine's second largest city. military experts say it looks like russia is using cluster bombs, which are banned by many countries. this is a residential area with no military objects...

here, a factory of some kind, now destroyed. it was a relentless bombardment of a major city as peace talks were beginning. this was the reception committee for russian troops in the port city of berdiansk in the east. shouts of "go home!" back in kyiv, the air raid sirens were wailing again, and some were rushing for the railway station, including this group of students from india. we don't know what's going to happen next, but the only thing is that we're going to go home, and we're trying our best to go back home, that's it. there have been reports about foreign students not being allowed on trains.

but in this time of war, hopes all will be treated equally. in these hard times, j ijust hope it doesn't matter who's indian, _ who's pakistani, russian, ukrainian, we all are just people, - we have certain human rights. so, i guess in these hard times, we should just help each other. and cooperate on this, and that's all. - many are carried to the station by fear for their children, for their city and the lives they led until last week. inside it was all too much for this beloved pet. and already there are queues forfood. some wondering how long it will be before supplies start to run out. day five of the invasion and ukraine still resists, but there are fears this city could be put under siege. and once again, darkness brings new danger in the capital. this time, a strike on a radar centre.

the city hunkers down for another night knowing there could be worse to come. orla guerin, bbc news, kyiv. still to come a bit later in the programme, we'll hear more from those fleeing the war, crossing borders into poland and moldova. but first — vladimir putin says a settlement over ukraine is possible, but only if what he described as moscow's legitimate security interests are addressed. while the fighting continues, russia's central bank has been rocked by sanctions imposed by the us and its european allies. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg reports on how russia's politicians and the public are reacting to the war. once, moscow glistened with aspiration — to be a global financial centre, an economic giant. but war has changed that. after the kremlin�*s invasion of ukraine, the world has

turned its back on russia. western sanctions have sent the russian rouble tumbling and interest rates soaring. no panic yet, but russians are feeling it. svetlana's advertising agency is already losing clients. it's just like a nightmare for me, really. i can't believe that this is really happening. we don't want to go back there, to this iron curtain, we don't want to be isolated from the society. me personally and everybody who i know, we don't want this. western sanctions, economic and financial, are designed to punish the russian state, the kremlin, for its war in ukraine. but inevitably the russian public will feel the effects, too,

and already there's a sense of disbelief here on the streets atjust how quickly russia's international isolation is growing. in the kremlin, an urgent meeting. translation: | invited _ you here to talk about the economy and about those sanctions that the so—called western community, or as i call it, the empire of lies, is trying to impose on us. more talking. this time, negotiators from russia and ukraine meeting in belarus. few expected a breakthrough, and there wasn't one. the war continues. but its beginning to feel like the kremlin�*s under pressure, with the president becoming an international pariah, his army meeting fierce resistance in ukraine and his people uneasy at the prospect of new divisions, new iron curtains separating them from the outside world. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow.

president putin has significant combat power at his disposal. for more on the military strategy, here's our defense correspondent jonathan beale. the russians have made advances, but slower than expected. their most significant gains have been in the south. remember, one of russia's early objectives was to create a land bridge from crimea and then expand their control towards the russian—declared republics donetsk and luhansk. they've also made gains in the north—east, but as yet, they've been unable to take the main cities there, like kharkiv. now, let's look at their advances from the north. russian forces are continuing their efforts to surround the capital, kyiv. but, again, they're meeting fierce resistance. last week, russia claimed that it had taken hostomel airport, but british military intelligence today said it's still being held by ukrainian forces.

western officials believe the invasion so far is not going according to plan. i'm joined now by sascha—dominik dov—bachmann. he is professor in law at the university of canberra and has academic expertise in military and war studies. it's great to get you on the programme. let's start by picking up on some of the points in my colleague possibly report where he has said that this invasion is not going to russia's plan. how was it meant to for russia?— going to russia's plan. how was it meant to for russia? good morning and thank you _ meant to for russia? good morning and thank you for _ meant to for russia? good morning and thank you for having _ meant to for russia? good morning and thank you for having me - meant to for russia? good morning and thank you for having me on - meant to for russia? good morning and thank you for having me on the| and thank you for having me on the programme. the original assessment was that the ukrainians would not fight back like the way they did. and also that actually the russians would be welcomed. and that had a direct impact on the weight basically, the planned operation was

rolled out. we have seen attacks, we have not seen the focus of kyiv in the beginning. instead of that government we have seen quite a lot of operations, reconnaissance operations, airborne operations but not what i would say in a comprehensive way, that means like an invasion could have been expected in terms of the direction of the prime assets along two or three defined, you could say it, attack vectors. and then obviously ensuring that you have enough resources. that means the supply lines are secured. and that is why it is fair to say that the initial momentum has stalled, and i think at the bottom of it is the fact that the ukrainians put up this fight, especially the first two to three days. they are getting better as we speak, and that is what slow down

the hall momentum.— speak, and that is what slow down the hall momentum. right. professor, so what will putin's _ the hall momentum. right. professor, so what will putin's strategy _ the hall momentum. right. professor, so what will putin's strategy be - the hall momentum. right. professor, so what will putin's strategy be now i so what will putin's strategy be now given everything that you have said? is not going the way he initially planned it. is not going the way he initially planned it— is not going the way he initially lanned it. ~ . , ., ., planned it. what putin is doing at the moment _ planned it. what putin is doing at the moment is _ planned it. what putin is doing at the moment is trying _ planned it. what putin is doing at the moment is trying to - planned it. what putin is doing at the moment is trying to commit i planned it. what putin is doing at - the moment is trying to commit more of his combat powerful cement present commit we have 75% of the forces which originally were allocated. that means the ones which he brought to the borders of ukraine, talking about 190,000 soldiers. he has now committed 75% to ukraine. we have seen these pictures of long columns driving down the main arteries. you see it not very much in fear of the ukraine air force despite the fact that the ukrainians are still maintaining a presence in the air and also they have still give abilities to actually attack russian air assets.

that means like helicopters and slow flying tactical aircraft. what can be expected is and we already hear the reports is that putin is stepping up... sorry... i the reports is that putin is stepping up... sorry... i 'ust wanted mi stepping up... sorry... i 'ust wanted to jump in i stepping up... sorry... i 'ust wanted to jump in there h stepping up... sorry... ijust wanted to jump in there and| stepping up... sorry... ijust- wanted to jump in there and say stepping up... sorry... ijust wanted tojump in there and say as wanted to jump in there and say as you point out, the ukrainians are mounting a very stiff resistance. was their ability or capability underestimated in the first instance?— underestimated in the first instance? ~ , ~ ,, instance? absolutely. and i think what played _ instance? absolutely. and i think what played a — instance? absolutely. and i think what played a major _ instance? absolutely. and i think what played a major role - instance? absolutely. and i think what played a major role was - instance? absolutely. and i think what played a major role was the j what played a major role was the training received by the united kingdom and by the united states. also what played a role is that ukraine modernised and completely reshaped its armed forces in 2014. in 2014 when we sought crimea and in the initialfighting in the in 2014 when we sought crimea and in the initial fighting in the eastern provinces, donbas region, we sought the ukrainian forces were simply

overwhelmed and ukrainians have not stood still since then. they have been fighting a bloodied war, 15,000 casualties since 2014. they have received material relief, aid and training by the uk in the us, so clearly underestimated. they are fighting with the power of the ukrainian army.— fighting with the power of the ukrainian army. fighting with the power of the ukrainian arm . ., ~ i., . ukrainian army. thank you so much for us the programme. _ if you want to keep up with events in ukraine as they happen, just go to our website. there you'll find a live page which is being continually updated with the latest news and developments. that's all on the bbc news website or you can download the bbc app. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme, we'll hear from some of those who have crossed into the small country of moldova to flee the fighting in ukraine.

first, the plates slid gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards. it was just a matter of seconds as the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb. on a remote pacific atoll, the americans have successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarfed that of the bomb dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier, and so my heart went bang, bang, bang! the constitutional rights of these marchers are their rights - of citizens of united states, - and they should protected even in the right to test them out so that they don't i get their heads broken l and are sent to hospital. this religious controversy, i know you don't say too much it, but does it worry you that it's ging to boil up when you get to the states? well, it worries me, yes, but, i hope everything will be all right

at the end of the day. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. more sanctions have been drawn up against russia following the invasion of ukraine, with switzerland, traditionally neutral, saying it willjoin the eu's measures against russia. the rouble has fallen sharply. also on monday, turkey, a nato member, said it would be closing the straits which lead to the black sea to all military shipping, although it could still allow russian warships to sail through to return to port. and the united nations also discussed the situation in ukraine again. the us said it was expelling a dozen russian un diplomats for security reasons. it's an unusual move, and one which angered its ambassador. they're announcing 12 people from the personnel of the russian mission persona non grata and demanding that they will leave by the 7th of march.

they're un diplomats? yes, un diplomats, un diplomats. and there has been more fallout for russia. football's world governing body fifa and europe's governing body uefa have suspended russian clubs and national teams from all competitions. it means that the russian men's team will not play their world cup playoffs next month and the women's team have been banned from this summer's european championship. in any war, the human toll and upheaval is inevitable. the un says more than half a million people have fled ukraine since the invasion began last week. many are travelling to poland, which borders the west of the country. our special correspondent fergal keane reports from from the ukrainian city of lviv, close to the polish border, on the growing refugee crisis. to the edge of desperation and beyond. in a bewildering crisis.

the women and the children of ukraine fleeing their country. "you will not be allowed," the policeman shouts to the men on the stairwell. "women and children only." tempers fray. back and forth go the arguments and pleas. shouting. the police move to help those allowed to board. so, the women and children are being pulled from the crowd on the stairs now so that they can board the train. the police again are outnumbered, but they are doing their best. i've seen them go down there into the crowds to try and calm people. but it's very, very difficult, given

the volatility of the situation. i saw you in the queue. what do you feel about what's happening here? it's awful. it's very bad. what age is your baby? one year, he's very scared. of course, of course. the foreign students and workers here find themselves without family help far from home. and if they're men, they must wait until women and children are evacuated. what is it like for you, this? it is really stressful. as you can see, i am a bit nervous. i want to get on the train, but i can't. my visa was supposed to come tomorrow. the un has warned of a fast deteriorating situation, as tens of thousands flee

towards western europe. this man is a british medic trying to leave with his family. here we just come, every people panic, because we have a bad - situation here, and we came to try and catch it, but it's so hard, - everybody wants to go to run. this is what he's run from. the russian shelling of kharkiv. sobbing. and this is the voice of a young woman in the city, terrorised by shelling close to her apartment. we met doha from morocco as she waited for a train. i cried, i prayed so much. and ijust want to go home, really. i'm not safe any more here. i left everything, i left my studies, i... just pray with us, guys. thank you so much. 0n platform six, a father's farewell to his infant son.

what cannot be held must be let go, untilanother day. fergal keane, bbc news, lviv. tens of thousands have also crossed into the small country of moldova. 0ur correspondent lucy williamson reports now from the village of palanca, on the frontier with ukraine, and has been speaking to some of the new arrivals. the palanca crossing point stands like a beacon in a landscape overshadowed by war. the road out of ukraine marked in headlights, stretching back mile after mile. nadia reached the front of the queue at one o'clock this morning. she came with friends and her two—year—old son, leaving her husband back in 0desa to fight. at the moldovan border, a local family offered her a place to stay. translation: they gave us somewhere warm to sleep. l they gave us food. it's unbelievable. we are so grateful to have neighbours like moldova. they are our true brothers.

i asked what her plans are now she's safely across the border. translation: we are going back home because ukraine is going to win. - "we're poor people", natalia tells me, "but i can't bear the sight of women and children fleeing war with nowhere to go." it's the third time natalia has taken in ukrainian refugees. the empathy tinged with worry for moldova itself, the former soviet state with a pro—russian breakaway region of its own. translation: the first day we heard the explosions and i cried. _ my son is in the army here. i'm crying and all these women are also crying because they left their husbands back there. much of moldova's border with ukraine is controlled by the authorities in transnistria, a pro—russian enclave with its own paramilitary forces.

we've just passed through a moldovan police checkpoint, and behind me is a checkpoint manned by russian peacekeepers, here on territory that's internationally recognised as belonging to moldova. behind this checkpoint is the start of transnistria, a breakaway pro—russian region. last year, moldova followed ukraine in electing a pro—western government. i asked the moldovan prime minister if she was worried russia might pose a threat to her country, too. we are indeed concerned. if international law is violated, i if agreements are not withheld, if peacekeeping mechanisms - are ignored, then, of course, any hypothetical scenario is possible. behind the beacon of the palanca crossing point, moldova's sparse villages have become a refuge.

this man's family have taken in nine people since friday. he's one of five siblings himself. "children see everything", his mother told us. "i want them to learn that when people need you, you help." lucy williamson, bbc news, moldova. you have been watching newsday. a reminder of our top story — ukraine has accused russia of bombarding residential districts in the country's second largest city, kharkiv, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens. what you're seeing on your screens right now is the shelling of a shopping mall in kharkiv. the regional governor said there were no military targets in the areas under attack and called it a war crime. kharkiv remains under ukrainian control. russia has been repeatedly criticised at the united nations in new york during a day of emergency meetings about ukraine. the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, said there were credible accounts of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure sustaining heavy damage.

that's all for now. stay with bbc world news. hello there. monday was a bit grey, wasn't it, for many of us, with outbreaks of rain at times. in fact, this is leek in staffordshire, and a fairly typical shot through monday afternoon. as the rain eased, it turned quite misty and murky. and the rain is sitting across the far south east as we speak, but it is allowing this area of high pressure to build in behind. so, quite a contrast with the feel of the weather first thing tuesday morning. perhaps lows down to —3 where we keep those clear skies, but where the cloud and the rain lingers, it will be a relatively mild start, 7—8, maybe even nine degrees. there will be some outbreaks of showery rain to begin with across the far south coast, but as we go through the afternoon, that rain may welljust nudge a little bit further north. so, if we draw a line from the bristol channel over to the wash, outbreaks of rain quite possible. further north, after that chilly

start, that's where we'll keep the sunshine through scotland, northern ireland, northern england. highs generally between 8—10 celsius. now, that weather front actually drifts its way steadily north and east. a little ridge of high pressure builds in, though, across scotland, so it does look likely that first thing on wednesday morning, could be quite a chilly start here. again, —4, —5 degrees not out of the question. where we keep that cloud and rain, it will be relatively mild, but again a grey, drab start to wednesday. that cloud will continue to push its way steadily northwards throughout the day, perhaps brightening up a little in the south. but top temperatures through the afternoon between 7—11 degrees. there's more rain to come moving in from the west, as you can see. that weather front will gradually drift its way steadily eastwards, so it is going to bring some outbreaks of rain with it from the west on thursday and a freshening wind for a time once the rain moves through. so, it may well start off dry in sheltered eastern areas. not set to last. the cloud and the outbreaks of rain will start to move

in from the west throughout the day. temperatures once again ranging from around 7—12 degrees. now, once we've got thursday out of the way, fingers crossed, it looks likely that the weather story will quieten down just a little with an area of high pressure building in. so, just in time for the start of the weekend. so, as we move through friday, potentially into saturday, it's drier, settled, with some springlike sunshine to look forward to. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines... there's been further intense fighting in ukraine's second city, harkiv. 11 people were killed in shelling on monday; dozens more were wounded. the city remains under ukrainian control. president zelenskiy says russia has now launched 56 rocket strikes and fired 113 cruise missiles against ukraine. sanctions have been imposed on russia's central bank — the rouble has sunk to a record low. it's the most aggressive step yet taken against the economy because it prevents russia deploying its reserves to prop up the currency. negotiators for kyiv and moscow have held talks in belarus in a bid to end the conflict. they broke up without agreeing a ceasefire, but are expected to resume later this week. and the united nations says more than half a million people have now fled ukraine for neighbouring countries, many seeking refuge in poland.